ST. AUGUSTINE (April 1, 2012)…. Long associated with Don Juan Ponce de León’s momentous voyage of 1513, Florida’s Historic Coast (St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches) will serve as a center of studies and events related to the 500th anniversary of the first major landing by Europeans on the shores of what would become the continental United States.

Scholarly studies indicate that Ponce de León first sighted and named La Florida on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1513. On April 2, according to a surviving navigational fix from his voyage, Ponce's three-ship fleet was at 30 degrees, 8 minutes north latitude - just south of present day Ponte Vedra Beach. Ponce and his landing party first came ashore in La Florida the following morning, April 3, 1513.  To honor and celebrate Florida's rich Spanish and American heritage, Florida's Historic Coast will play host to numerous events and celebrations. These will begin in the spring of 2012 with Culturally La Florida, a presentation series highlighting the Spanish influences on Florida, and will continue with the 500th Anniversary of Ponce's discovery of La Florida in 2013; the 50th Anniversary commemorations noting the pivotal role the City of St. Augustine played in the 1964 civil rights movement; and finally in 2015, the Commemoration of the 450th Anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city.

Each day of the year, visitors to Florida's Historic Coast experience living history at a collection of exciting museums, parks and attractions. For current updates on all things Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra on Florida's Historic Coast, become a Ponce de Leon's 500th Facebook Fan.  Florida's Historic Coast will be commemorating these historic events at a series of exhibitions, celebrations and programs through 2015.   

Along with such important commemorative events of, come legacy projects. Through 2015, the City of St. Augustine and Florida's Historic Coast will experience and additions to the already famous attractions and historic sites, as well as myriad visitor experience enhancements.  Some of these projects include the creation of a world-class expo center to showcase the areas Hispanic history and the rich cultural threads of the St. Augustine tapestry;  the development of a waterfront heritage landscape with comprehensive interpretation; and many other meaningful programs and experiences to share with the millions of visitors to Florida's Historic Coast.  Following is a sample of the 2012 - 2015 events and celebration that showcase 500 years of Florida' Historic Coast:
 

2012 – Celebrating Spanish La Florida

• May 3 to 6: Culturally La Florida: Spain's New World Legacy - A city-wide cultural exposition with demonstrations, traditions, folklore, music, lectures and performances. 
• May 14 to 19: Romanza Art and Music Week – A city-wide celebration of art, theatre and music
• May 19: First Coast Opera: Viva Espana – The City of St. Augustine’s Spanish heritage is celebrated through song, dance and music.
• June 1 & 2: Reenactment of Sir Francis Drake's 1586 Raid on St. Augustine  - Relive history as the English corsair, Sir Francis Drake, and his raiders return to St. Augustine in an authentic re-creation of the 1586 sack of the city. 
• June 20 through 24: National Underground Railroad Conference - The conference theme is the resistance to slavery through escape and flight to and from the South, including through international flight, from the 16th century to the end of the Civil War. 
•  June 23: Battle of Bloody Mose – An exciting reenactment that commemorates the 1740 Battle of “Bloody Moosa” which forced the British to retreat from Spanish Florida’s settlement of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, the First Free Black Settlement in North America. 
• September 2012 to January 2013: Ancient City Mosaic Exhibit –  450 works of art by local artists will be on display at the Expo Hall. 
• September 7 to 9: 16th Century St. Augustine Encampment and Reenactments, Including the September 8th 447th St. Augustine Founder's Day Celebration – Celebrations and authentic reenactments of the 1565 landing and establishment of City of St. Augustine by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his crew made up of more than 800 Spanish men, women and children. 
• October 4 – 7: International Spanish Food & Wine Festival - a celebration of heritage foods, wine, dance and culture fills the weekend.
• October 20: Spanish Constitutional Ceremony & Blessing - A re-enactment of the reading of the Spanish Constitution will be presented by the Fountain of Youth Archaeological National Park.  A blessing will be presented by The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.  
• November 17 & 18: St. Augustine Half-Marathon - Perfect for the entire family, this event features a 5K, 10K and fun run.
• November 24 through January 31, 2013: Nights of Lights  - Tracing its origins to the Spanish tradition of displaying a lighted white candle during the Christmas holidays, the spectacular lighting of nearly 3 millions tiny white lights in St. Augustine reflects the city’s 450 year history while creating a beautiful setting for the holidays.

2013: Celebrating 500 Years of La Florida

• January through April: New World in the Eyes of the Explorers Exhibition - When European explorers touched the shores of the New World, they had no idea people were living there, nor did Native Americans know that an Old World culture existed.
• January through March:  Discover First America! Program Adventures – Educational and entertaining programs about St. Augustine's history through presentations, re-enactments, music, dance and sometimes even food!       
• February 23: Nocha de Gala - Birthday of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez – The Annual 16th century Noche de Gala, the birthday celebration honoring don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the founder of our Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine. 
• April 1 -7: Reenactment of Ponce de Leon’s 1513 Landing and 500th Commemorative Celebrations – Features a visit by Spain’s Royal family, a Mass led by the Bishop of St. Augustine and other festivities held throughout the City of St. Augustine.
• May 13 – 19:  Romanza Art and Music Week - A city-wide celebration of art and music.
• Fall: Native American Gathering and Healing Ceremony - a national Gathering and Healing Ceremony to honor the centennial anniversary of hundreds of Native Americans imprisoned by the United State Government in an attempt to neutralize uprisings.
• September 6 - 8: 16th Century St. Augustine Encampment and Reenactments, Including the September 8th 448th St. Augustine Founder's Day Celebration – Celebrations and authentic reenactments of the 1565 landing and establishment of City of St. Augustine by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his crew made up of more than 800 Spanish men, women and children. 
•  October 3 - 6: International Spanish Food & Wine Festival  - a celebration of heritage foods, wine, dance and culture fills the weekend.
• November 16 & 17: St. Augustine Half-Marathon- Perfect for the entire family, this event features a 5K, 10K and fun run.
• November 23: Maritime Heritage Festival – A festival featuring new and historical boats and vessels, educational components, food, music and other entertainment.
• November 23 through January 31, 2014:  Nights of Lights - Nearly 3 millions tiny white lights in St. Augustine reflects the city’s 450 year history while creating a beautiful setting for the holidays.

2014: Celebrating the Cultures of Florida’s Historic Coast

• January through March: Discover First America!  Program Adventures       
• February 22: Nocha de Gala - Birthday of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez
• May: Treasure of America Convention     
• June: Commemorative Civil Rights March
• September 6: St. Augustine 449th Founder's Day Celebration 
•  October 2 - 5: International Spanish Food & Wine Festival
• November 15 & 16: St. Augustine Half-Marathon
• November 22 through January 31, 2015: Nights of Lights

 2015:  Celebrating the Nation’s Oldest City’s 450th Birthday

• January through March: Discover First America! Adventure Programs
• February 28: Nocha de Gala - Birthday of St. Augustine Founder, Pedro Menendez
• September 5 – 12: Viva St. Augustine! 450th Celebration Commemorating the Founding the Nation's Oldest City      
• October 1 - 4: International Spanish Wine and Food Festival
• November through January: Tapestry: Cultural Threads of Florida
• November 21 through January 31: Nights of Lights